Dreamcast Digital Video Camera Unveiled

At a public showing in Tokyo today, Sega of Japan revealed the full load of details on their previously announced "Internet Digital Camera," DreamEye. DreamEye is a camera that connects to the Dreamcast via the controller port, giving the system video capturing capabilities. Sound is received by the included microphone headset, which attaches to the controller using a connection device similar to what we saw of Seaman.

Hideki Satou, a managing director at Sega, explained that the three main functions of the camera are video e-mail, photo e-mail, and video teleconferencing. Using the video mail feature, one can send 25 seconds of video via e-mail, all of which can be saved to a VMU at the receiving end. The functionality has been achieved through the cooperation of KDD Technology.

The photo e-mail feature comes about when one makes use of the "Dreameye" as a digital still camera, capable of 310,000 pixels. The device can take pictures of various resolutions when attached to the DC, or by making use of the included battery pack and two AAA batteries, can be used as a stand-alone device. With the two batteries, it's possible to take 300 total pictures. Only thirty-one 640X480 shots can be stored simultaneously in the camera's flash memory, though. Pictures taken through the camera can be edited and sent out via e-mail using a software called "Dream Photo Fun," developed jointly by Sega and PictureIQ. Sega demonstrated the video teleconferencing functionality, by staging an online conversation between Sega President Shoichiro Irimajiri, who's currently in Europe at the Milia Trade Show, and Mr. Satou. Despite the use of only the 36.6K connection that comes standard with the Dreamcast in Japan, the overseas phone conversation was achieved without trouble, with a promised 3-5 frames per second, depending on the speed of the connection.

The video teleconferencing is achieved through two means: either by going through the internet, or by direct dial. When making a video phone call, users can make the camera display an animated character in their place, and can adjust the brightness and volume.

According to Mr. Satou, development on the camera device was finished in October of last year, but they've been taking the time since then to make the software more user friendly, and get the cost down. Sega is, afterall, attempting to appeal to more than just the hardcore gamer crowd, including a female and elderly audience.

Sega is scheduling the DreamEye for Japanese release in June at a yet undetermined price, but this should be just the start of what we'll see in the future. The DreamEye may make use of broadband connections, allowing for better video phone capability. ISAO is planning to develop a web site that expands the functionality of the camera by allowing voice and image-based services. Finally, software makers are playing around with voice and image recognition for use in future games, making use of a set of tools created by KDD.

Who knows . . . maybe you'll be able to plaster your face onto a dummy model for the next Soul Calibur.